Friction slide fastener



NOV- 13, 1951 J. M. scHAYE FRICTION SLIDE FASTENER Filed July 8, 1948 F'IE.

` "e ll o BY V ATTORNEYS.

FIEL 7 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 2,515.18? riuc'noN sLmE FAs'rENEn Jack M. Schaye, Brooklyn, N. Y., assign r to Conmar Products Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 8. 1948, Serial N0. 37.678

claim. l

The invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners and more particularly to improvements in sliders for the same. The invention also relates to novel means for adjusting the length or circumference of a flexible member or members, such as Suspenders, belts, wrist bands or the like. In the slide fastener art there are various types of slider constructions designed to resist movement along the slide fastener stringers. Generally, the various types of sliders which resist movement are called lock sliders and may be classified pinlock, cam lock (or friction lock), automatic lock and winglock sliders. With the exception of the last named, the common denominator of each of these classes of sliders is that locking and unlocking depends upon manipulation of the handle or so-called pull." Though the winglock slider acts independently of the pull it resists movement only when crosspull is applied to the fastener.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a slider which supplies a desired amount of resistance to movement independently of the position of the pull," and in the absence of crosspull.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a slider which is extremely simple in operation, and which does not require any extraneous locking means or moving parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the llength or circumference of a flexible member or members such as suspenders, belts, wrist bands or the like, said means being of such a construction that it is almost impossible for the user to impair its performance.

To accomplish the foregoing'general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the slide fastener, the slider, and the means for adjusting length or circumference, and their relation one to the other, as sought to be defined in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figs. 2 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one form of slider of the present invention with the slide fastener elements indicated in phantom.

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the slider halves, however, indicated in phantom to illustrate the compressive action of the slider upon the slide fastener elements;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wrist watch and band, the latter utilizing the present invention for adjusting the circumference of the band;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, plan view of Suspenders provided with the present novel means for adjusting and maintaining the length thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section of a slider blank from which a modified form of the slider blank from which a modified form of the slider shown in Fig. 2 may be formed, and

Fig. 8 shows still another modification.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the slide fastener F comprises the usual stringers I 2 and- I4 each provided with spaced, interlockable fastener elements i6. The stringers I2 and I4 comprise tapes I8 provided with beaded edges. 20 about which the fastener elements I8 are clamped. Strngers l2 and I 4, preferably, are connected together by any suitable stops 22 and 24 which also limit the movement of the slider S along the stringers.

The slider S of the present invention is movable along the stringers l2 and I4 by means of a handle or so-called pull' 26. The pull may be of any desired .type or configuration. As will hereinafter appear, the operation of the novel slider does not require that the pull possess a pin or cam or be formed to-actuate a locking detent of any kind. The sliders resistance to movement also is independent of the manner in which the pull is manipulated. 'Ihe pull" 26 illustrated in Fig. l, is of the ring or link chain type, which ordinarily can be used solely with a non-locking or with a winglock slider.

The slider S comprises the usual wings and flanges. In the present case there are spaced top and bottom wings 28 and 30, respectively, joined by a neck or post 32. The top wing 28 is provided with inturned rails or flanges 34, and the bottom wing with inturned 4rails or flanges 36, which together with the neck or post 32 form the usual Y-shaped channel. The pull" 26 is secured to a lug 38 provided on the top wing 28. The slider may be formed of a single piece of metal either stamped or die cast (the so-called one-piece slider), or it may be formed by joining the two slider halves at the neck by welding or riveting (the so-called two-piece slider). The one-piece stamped type of slider is preferred, and is the one depicted in the drawings. As so far described the slider may be of conventional construction.

The present slider differs markedly, however. from a conventional slider, in that the wings as manufactured are so formed and related that the 3 height of at least a portion of the stem of the Y- shaped channel normally is less than the corresponding dimension of the elements. Thus in Fig. 7 the dimension C, and in Fig. 8 the dimension D. are less than the dimension h of the elements shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2 the free ends of the wings are compressed toward each other and set so that the height of the slider channel in the stem portion thereof normally is less (with no fastener elements therein) than the dimension h. In other words, the height of the slider channel in the stem portion thereof normally is less than the corresponding dimension h of the fastener elements were it not for the fact that the fastener elements are within the slider channel. The reduced dimension is preferably localized near the free ends of the slider wings so that they will engage the fastener elements with a` resilient, compressive force. In this way the slider may be given a desired frictional resistance to movement, which resistance is maintained substantially constant over a long operating life. The resilience is supplied by the slider body itself. The height of the slider channel in the stem portion of the slider is controlled by the post and by the combined resilience of the DOst and the wings projecting from said post. The resulting force supplies a relatively smooth, moderate frictional resistance to movement of the slider. Unlike sliders having a friction cam on the pull, or having a friction shoe controlled by a cam on the pull, in the present case the frictional resistance to movement is independent of the position of the pull. Moreover, unlike the so-called Wing-lock sliders, in the present case the frictional resistance to movement is independent of, and exists even in the absence of, cross-pull. Thus the slider may be used on stringers which remain in parallel relation.

Considering the first form of the invention in greater detail, to give the slider S in Fig. 2 the desired resistance to movement, the narrow end, that is the end remote from the post 32, is compressed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slider, as indicated by the arrows B-B. As shown in Fig. 2, the dot-dash lines a and b indicate the positions of the outerV surfaces of the top and bottom wings 28 and 30, respectively, prior to compressing the slider halves. By compressing the slider halves to the positions indicated in the solid lines of Fig. 2, and imparting a set to the material of which the slider is formed, the slider channel has its height reduced from the neck or post 32 toward the narrow end of the slider, with the greatest reduction of slider channel height being obtained near the narrow end of the slider. The height of the slider channel begins to become less than the corresponding dimension h of the fastener elements I6 preferably at that point of the stem portion of the channel where it meets the arms of the Y. This gradual taper of channel height with respect to the dimension h of the fastener elements IB, assuming no fastener elements in the channel, is illustrated in Fig. 2.

By deforming the slider in the manner above described, the slider, in eifect, becomes a friction shoe or a spring clip. The inner faces of the slider halves 28 and 30, designated 40 and 42, respectively, exert an elastic, resilient. compressive clasping force upon the adjacent faces of the fastener elements which are disposed within the stem portion of the channel. The dot-dash lines in Fig. 4 illustrate Where the slider halves 28 and 30 would be were not the fastener elements hel n.. ii)

Aenieuy, the shortest distanee between the mf ner surfaces 40 and 42, which is near the extreme lower end of the stem of the channel, need be only a few thousandths of an inch less than the corresponding dimension h of the fastener elements in order to obtain the desired frictional resistance to movement. For example, in the manufacture of a so-called #2 fastener, the height of the slider channel adjacent the post 32 may be 0.067 to 0.070 inch and the height of the channel at the base of the stem of the channel or at the narrow end of the slider may be 0.057 to 0.060 inch for cooperation with fastener elements having a dimension, h, of 0.062 to 0.064 inch. It shall be understood that these dimensions are given by way of illustration only, and not in limitation of the invention. Corresponding relative dimensions for slider and fastener elements are suitable for fasteners of any size.

The slider described is a truefriction slider, as distinguished from the known cam lock slider (sometimes called a friction lock) which depends for its operation upon a cam provided on the pull, which cam engages the fastener elements through a window in one of the slider wings. The slider here described may be moved anywhere along the stringers by means of any type of pull or handle attached thereto. It will maintain its position without undue slipping, and independently of any pull manipulation, and notwithstanding the absence of a locking pin, cam or detent, or of crosspull upon the Stringer.

In order to minimize ratcheting of the slider when moved over the fastener elements, it is preferred to round or bevel the edges at 44 and 46, the iowermost edges of the Wings' inner surfaces 40 and 42, respectively. Also, it is preferred to bevel the edges of the flanges or rails 34 and 3B at the areas designated 35 and 3l, respectively, in order to facilitate the fastener elements i6 passing into the slider channel without interference.

The novel slider and slide fastener are particularly suited to serve as a most effective and simple means for adjusting and maintaining the length or circumference of flexible members such as garters, Suspenders, wrist bands and the like. In uses of this kind it is desirable that the slider be moved and maintained in a desired position without the necessity for lifting or manipulating a pull. Furthermore, in such uses, crosspull upon the stringers is Wholly absent thereby making the winglock type of slider unsuitable.

Fig. 5 illustrates a wrist band for a watch having incorporated therein the slide fastener F of the present invention. One strap member 48 has suitably secured thereto, as by sewing, the fastener F including the slider S. Preferably, the strap member 48 is laminated or doubled as is customary in such articles. To provide a uniform thickness to the strap member 48 with the fastener, the inner ply has its central portion cut out at 50 to receive the slide fastener. The other strap member 52, which is also laminated, has secured thereto, within the doubled end 54, a connecting member 56 in the form of a hooked ring 56. The ring 56 is attached to the slider S through the usual lug 3'8 provided on one of its wings. Though the thickness of strap member 52 is usually adequate to prevent the slider and connecting member from bearing against the wearer's wrist, it is preferred to provide an extra ply or flap 51 upon the strap member 52 which will cover the slider and connecting ring.

With the slider shown in the position of Mg. 5, the circumference of the band is sufllciently large to pass over the wrist, and it is'necessary merely to pull upon the end 58 of the strap member ll to draw the circumference down to the dimensions of the wrist. A pull on the strap end 58 will cause the slider to move in the direction of the arrow A until the desired circumference about the .wrist is obtained. The frictional characteristic invention to Suspenders. One member has secured to one face thereof, as by sewing, a fastener F. The other member 12 has attached thereto a shanked button 1I. The member 'lil may be the long part that will extend over the shoulder, or it may be a comparatively short strip which is secured to another longer strip of material, 18, which in turn will extend over the shoulder. The

-flexible members 10 and 12 are connected to each other by means of ans-shaped member I8 a portion of which encircles the button 14 and the other portion of which lpasses through the lug 38 on the slider S. In order to lengthen the suspend- F18. 7 illustrates a modification of the slider construction heretofore described. Instead of obtaining a reduction in channel height by compressing or setting the free ends of the slider halves closer together, the same result may be obtained by varying the thickness of one or both slider halves, with two requirements in view, one being that the spacing between the slider halves at the free end or stem portion thereof be less than the dimension of the fastener elements when no fastener elements are disposed therebetween, and the other being that the area of the constricted port-ion of the slider` be great enough to straddle several fastener elements at a time. The latter is a preference rather than a requirement, in order to make the operation smoothly frictional rather than a ratchet-like locking action.

One example is shown in Fig. 7, in which the increased thickness of the metal at 84, compared to the thickness of the metal at 82, reduces the spacing between the halves of the slider, as indicated -at C in Fig. 7, the dimension C being less than the dimension h of the fastener elements as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. v

This increase may be obtained by coining or upsetting the metal of a blank which is otherwise stamped from sheet metal of uniform thickness,

although in such case a more localized thickening may be employed. In the specific case illustrated in Fig. 7, the slider is stamped from a strip of metal which has been preliminarily rolled in a ers it is necessary merely to pull 'the members 18 v and 12 apart. When the desired length is obtained the friction slider S will maintain the relative position of the two members. If it is desired to shorten the suspender length one may move the slider in the opposite direction by holding either member 1li or 12 and moving the other member toward it.

Fig. 5 may be considered as showing the invention applied to a single continuous flexible member rather than two flexible members end to end, for if the connections between the members 48, 52. and the watch are considered to be relatively permanent connections, the complete band, including the watch, may be considered to be .a single flexible member with one end portion car- .rying the stringers, and the other end connected to the slider. On the other hand, if the connections to the watch are considered to be freely releasable connections, the adjusting means may be said to be applied to two flexible members arranged more or less end to end.

It will be observed that in the construction described the interlocking fastener elements serve primarily as a track for the slider. The usual function of a slide fastener, namely, to open or close an opening in a receptacle or garment, is not utilized in the present invention. For this reasonthe invention is operable with but one stringer instead of two. However, I prefer to use two forstrength, symmetry, and stability. There is also the advantage of better appearance, as well as in holding the relatively adjustable flexible members flat againstone another. In fact, since the interlocking function of the slide fastener elements is not utilized, projections and recesses which normally are coined or cast in these elements may be omitted. However, one advantage of the present invention is its ability to use common standard inexpensive slide fastener stringers. The stops shown at each end are not required since the limits of movement of the slider can be supplied by the article itself.

direction perpendicular to the longer dimension of the slider blank, that is, perpendicular to the paper as viewed in Fig. '7. This strip of material is rolled with greater thickness at its side edges 84 than at its center 82. In this way, when the blank is bent and formed to provide the slider S' having the top and bottom wings 86 and 88 and the connecting post 90, the taper of the stock material itself provides the desired inner dimensions of the slider channel, without necessitating the compression and set of the slider halves. For the same purpose as hereinbefore described with regard to edges 44 and 46, the edges of the blank preferably are bevelled at 92 and 9|. The wings 88 and 88 are of course provided with the usual inturned flanges 96 and $8. Also, the usual lug is formed on one of the wings.

As previously suggested, the thickening of the metal of the wings may be localized at the free ends instead of being spread uniformly along the length of the slider. This is shown in Fig. 8, in'

- preferably rounded or beveled, as shown at H8.

These are complementary, and may be made in one forming operation, thus transferring some of the metal from the bevel to the brake portion I I6.

If desired, the metal of the wing might be indented, rather than thickened, to produce the inside conguration shown in Fig. 8, the outside configuration being unimportant except for appearance.

If a two-piece welded or riveted slider is used, and it is desired to omit the compression operation, each slider wing may be formed of stock having a longitudinal cross-section which increases in thickness from the end which will be disposed at the neck when the pieces are welded together toward the end which will be located at the narrow end of the finished slider. In the alternative, the wings may be so bent relative to the neck portions which are welded in face-toface relation, that the wings will have a conversing relation from the neck toward the free ends of the wings when the neck portions are welded together. However, by using va separate compression operation to modify a standard slider, it becomes unnecessary to change the regular equipment for making sliders.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of my improved slider and length adjusting means, will be appar-` ent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown the invention in several preferred forms, many changes may be made in the particular structures shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. An article of the character described comprising a tape provided with spaced elements attached to an edge thereof, and a slider mountedv on said tape for frictional engagement with the elements, said slider comprising top and bottom wings and inturned flanges, a post connecting said wings at one end thereof, the post and inturned flanges forming a substantially Y-shaped channel, the wings as manufactured being so formed and related that the height of the slider channel within at least a portion of the stem thereof normally is less than the corresponding dimension of the elements, whereby the wings always will engage adjacent surfaces of the elements with a resilient, compressive force supplied by the resilience of the slider body itself, said height of the slider channel in the aforesaid stem portion thereof being controlled by the post and by the combined resilience of the post and the wings projecting from said post, said force supplying relatively smooth, moderate frictional resistance to movement of the slider independently of the position of a pull and in the absence of cross-pull.

2. An article of the character described comprising a pair of tapes each provided with spaced, interlockable. slide fastener elements attached to an edge thereof, and a slider mounted on said tapes for frictional engagement with the fastener elements, said slider comprising top and bottom wings and inturned flanges, a post connecting said wings at one end thereof, the post and inturned flanges forming a substantially Y-shaped channel, the wings as manufactured being so formed and related that the height of the slider channel decreases from the arms toward the lower end of the stem portion of the channel, the height of the l channel within at least a portion of the stem' thereof normally being less than the corresponding dimension of the fastener elements, whereby the wings always will engage adjacent surfaces of the fastener elements with a resilient, compressive force supplied by the resilience of the slider body itself, said height of the slider channel in the aforesaid stem portion thereof being controlled by the post and by the combined resilience of the post and the wings projecting from said post, said force supplying relatively smooth, moderate fric' tional resistance to movement of the slider independently of the position of a pull and in the elements, said slider comprising top and bottom=- 8 wings and inturned flanges, a post connectingsald wings at one end thereof, the post and inturned flanges forming a substantially Y-shaped channel, the free ends of the wings as manufactured being compressed toward each other and set so that the height of the slider channel within at least aportion of the stem thereof normally is less than the 'corresponding dimension of the fastener.

elements, whereby the wings always will engage adjacent surfaces of the fastener elements with a resilient.' .compressive force supplied by the resilience'of the slider body itself, said height of the slider channel in the aforesaid stem portion thereof-being controlled by the post and by the combined resilience of-the post and the wings projecting `from said post, said force supplying relatively smooth, moderate frictional resistance to movement of the slider independently of the position of a pull and in the absence of cross-pull.

4. An article of the character described comprising a pair of tapes each provided with spaced, interlockable, slide fastener elements attached to an edge thereof, and a slider mounted on saidtapesfor frictional engagement with the fastener elements, said slider comprising top and bottom wings and inturned flanges, a, post connecting said flanges forming a substantially Y-shaped channel, the wings having a longitudinal cross-section which so increases in thickness at the narrow end of the slider that the height of the slider channel in at least a portion of the stem thereof normally is less than the corresponding dimension of the fastener elements, whereby the Wings always will engage adjacent surfaces of the fastener elements with a resilient, compressive force supplied by the resilience of the slider body itself, said height of the slider channel in the aforesaid stem portion thereof being controlled by the post andiby thecombined resilience of the post and the wings projecting from said post, said force supplying relatively smooth, moderate frictional resistance to movement of the slider independently of the position of a pull and in the absence of cross-pull.

5. An article of the character described comprlsing a pair of tapes each provided with spaced, interlockable, slide fastener elements attached to an edge thereof, and a slider mounted on said tapes for frictional engagement with the fastener elements, said slider comprising top and bottom wings and inturned flanges, a post connecting said wings at one end thereof, the post and inturned flanges forming a substantially Y-shaped channel, the wings as manufactured being so formed and related that the height of the slider channel decreases from the arms toward the lower end of the stem portion of the channel, the height of the channel within-at least a portion of the stem thereof'normally being less than the corresponding dimension of the fastener elements, whereby the wings always will engage adjacent surfaces of the fastener elements with a resilient, compressive force supplied by the resilience of the slider body itself, said height of the slider channel in the aforesaid stem portion thereof being controlled by the post and by the combined resilience of the post and the Wings projecting from said post, said force supplying relatively smooth, moderate frictional resistance to movement of the slider independently of the position of a pull and in the absence vof cross-pull, and each of said Wings being-provided'4 with a substantial bevel at its lower- `most. inner edge, to prevent positive locking'oi 9 the slider against movement in a. direetion from Number the post toward the stem of the slider. 2,077,360 JACK M. SCHAYE. 2,078,745 2,164,937 REFERENCES CITED- 5 2,288,760 The following references are of record in the 2447329 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 112.721 1,598,183 Whitney Aug. 31, 1926 357.072 1,651,544 Prentice Dee, s, 1927 553.552

Name Date A Gilmore Apr. 13, 1937 Ulrich Apr. 27, 1937 Morin July 4, 1939 Williams July 7, 1942 Goldblatt Aug. 17, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Apr. 10, 1929 Great Britain Sept. 17, 1931 Great Britain May 26, 1943 

